Is it safe to buy antique rugs online?

An increasing number of antique rugs are for sale online but how do potenial buyers know if a rug is genuine?

An online purchase doesn’t give you the opportunity to see the rug firsthand or touch or feel it. As a result, you won’t be able to assess the pile, weave, color and other important factors that ensure the rug is authentic and not overpriced.

You also have to realise that the online picture can sometimes be misleading in the same way that a budget hotels may look amazing on a website but leaves a lot to be desired in real life.

So, how do you know the vintage rug you are trying to buy online is authentic and fairly priced. Well, you won’t and often have to trust the seller’s word for it.

Here are a few tips to help you out:

Find a trusted seller. Check online and see if a reputable one in your city does this.

You have a better chance here of getting a high- quality authentic carpet than dealing with consumer- to- consumer sellers. Don’t get me wrong – not all sellers in online selling sites like eBay, eBid and Preloved are scammers or overpriced. You will probably find several good rugs from other consumers who are selling their old, unwanted rugs. However, there is no guarantee to this because you never really know what you’re going to get until the carpet is delivered to your home.

Be wary of carpets priced too low. If it is an authentic vintage Persian or Oriental rug, it should raise a red flag if it is 80% cheaper than other rugs in the market.

Some sellers may give you the option to meet them and see the item before you buy it. This will allow you to check out the carpet and make sure it is authentic and of good quality. Just make sure you meet up with the seller at a convenient public area, such as a mall, somewhere close to a police station, or even at your local rug dealer so they can help you appraise the rug (if they agree to do it).

Visit Sharafi & Co’s warehouse and we can help you pick out a rug that you like that is also within your budget.